Lubricating and sealing means



May 18, 1954 A, A. ASHTON LUBRICATING SEALING MEANS Original Filed ,March 6, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l N p p h Q 0 0 N a b I "N a a N g IO S g; m a 2 Q 0 9r 0 w fik co wr o 221 v INVENTOK ALBERT A. ASHTON ATTORNEY May 18, 1954 ASHTON 2,678,609

' LUBRICATING SEALING MEANS Original F' i-i ed March 6, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 U I05 l65 4 INVENTOR.

ALBERT A. ASHTON ATTORN EY Patented May 18, 19541 LUBRICATIN G AND SEALING MEANS Albert A. Ashton, Houston, Tex., assignor to Emsco Manufacturing Company, a corporation of California Original application March 6, 1948, Serial No. 13,459. Divided and this application October 29, 1949, Serial No. 124,453

8 Claims. 1

The present invention relates generally to pumps, especially the type employed in the oil well drilling art for the pumping of fluids such as mud or slush; and is more particularly concerned with improvements in lubricating and sealing means for the pumping mechanism.

The present application constitutes a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 13,459, filed March 6, 1948, now abandoned.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved lubricating system and pressure sealed packing for the pump plungers, which are so arranged that lubricant will be introduced into the packing in timed relation to the plunger movement, namely, during time of low pressure when the plunger is making its suction stroke. AS1101). an arrangement is advantageous as it enables use of relatively low pressure supply for the lubricant. For this reason, in my improved arrangement, it is not necessary to overcome the relatively high pumping pressure before lubricant will be admitted to the packing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a unitary packing assembly which may be removed or replaced as a unit without disassembly.

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing preferred embodiments of the invention without placing limitations on the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings which are for illustrative purposes only:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a pumping unit embodying the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan View having portions of the casing cut away to show the cooperative relationship of the pumping elements includ ing the lubricating and sealing means of the present invention, certain parts being shown in section;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section through one of the pumping mechanisms, taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the lubricating packing assembly, taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, as shown in Fig. 1, the pump embodying the features of the present invention comprises a unitary assembly consisting of a power end A and a liquid end B mounted on a common base structure as generally indicated at C. v

The base structure C in this instance consists of a plurality of elongate skid beams H3 which are secured in parallel spaced apart relation by means of tubular spreaders H at the ends of the skid beams, these tubular Spreaders being secured by welding or other suitable means.

The pumping unit of this invention is readily adapted for connection to constant speed power sources of different types, such as steam, gas engines, or electric drive. For example, where the power source consists of a plurality of hydrocarbon engines, the pumping unit may be directly connected with a compounding transmission, as usually provided.

In Fig. 1, an arrangement is shown in which power may be delivered from a power source to a power delivery member, in this instance, a V- belt sheave [3 carried by a suitable power delivery shaft (not shown) which is supported in suitable bearings l5-i5 (one shown) respectively supported on the outermost skid beams Ill-l0. The power delivery shaft, in this instance, has a conventional driving connection with a main shaft [8.

The main housing of the pump unit is fabricated primarily from plate members and consists of opposed side wall plates 2|--2l, and an end plate structure 22 at the power end of the pump. The top of the housing consists of a permanentiy secured cover plate 23 adjacent the fluid end of the pump and a removable cover section 2d which may be removably bolted or otherwise connected to the cover plate 23 and a cover portion 25 disposed between the removable cover section and the end plate 22. At the opposite or fluid end, the housing is closed by a pump frame structure 26.

The interior of the housing is compartmented, being formed at the fluid end into a series of pump compartments 21, an intermediate crosshead compartment 28, and a variable speed transmission compartment 29. As shown in Fig. 3, the compartments 2! and 28 are separated and sealed relative to each other by a transversely extending common wall member 30 secured at its bottom to the skid beams and at its top to the cover plate 23, as by welding or other suitable means. The innermost end of the frame structure 26 is secured to the wall member 3i] by welding or otherwise.

The compartment 28 contains a plurality of cylindrical cross-head barrels 3! secured as by welding at one end to the wall member 39, and at their other ends to a transversely extending wall member 32 which is likewise secured at its bottom to the skid beams. The compartment 28 and compartment 29 are in communication with each other in their uppermost portions.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the variable speed transmission as contained within the compartment as will now be described briefly. The main shaft [8 is mounted adjacent the end plate 22 and has its ends rotatably supported in antifriction bearings 31. This shaft 18 is selectively connectable through a plurality of sets of transmission gears of different speed ratios, such as gear 43 and gear 41, with a jack shaft 48 supported in suitable bearings 49. Thus, the shaft 45 be driven at a plurality of different speeds; and since this shaft is connected through gearing (not shown) with a main crank shaft 5'. supported in bearings 68, the pump speed may be readily varied as desired, depending upon the speed selected in the transmission.

The present pump contemplates the utilization of single acting pumping mechanism which will be actuated in timed relation during each revolution of the crank shaft 6?. Any desired number of pumping mechanisms may be utilized. The crank shaft is therefore provided with a plurality of eccentrics Ill, corresponding with the number of pumping mechanisms, which are symmetrically positioned axially of the crank shaft and have their points of maximum throw circumferentially spaced to occur at uniform intervals during the rotation of the crank shaft.

Since the construction of each pumping mech- I anism and its connection with the crank shaft is the same in each case, it is thought that the description of only one pumping mechanism and its connection will sufiice in order to fully understand the operation of the pumping or fluid end of my improved pump unit and the present invention.

As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, each pumping mechanism includes a casting as generally indicated at H, having a generally tubular horizontally disposed body portion I8 defining a cylinder bore '59 which is operatively associated with a plunger 85 to form a positive displacement pump ing mechanism. The innermost end of the plunger 80 is connected to a cross-head extension member H4.

The innermost end of the body portion '52 is formed with a terminal securing flange Hit by means of which the casting I? may be secured as by. bolts IE5 to the pump frame structure 26 with the associated end of the cylinder bore in axial alignment with an opening we of the associated wall portion of the pump frame structure 25. The plunger 80 is supported for reciprocable movement in the cylinder, and adjacent its passage through the opening IGS is provided with a unit packing assembly and lubricating means Sill which will subsequently be described in detail.

The cross-head extension II 4 passes through an opening I 25 in the wall member 3%]. A ring IZI is secured thereover, and is recessed to receive a packing therein surrounding the cross-head extension I I4, this packing being retained by a suitable packing gland I25.

The opposite end of the cross-head extension H4 from the one which is connected to the plunger 80 has associated therewith a cross-head I29 which is supported for reciprocable movement in the cross-head barrel 3i, the bore of the cross-head barrel being axially aligned with the opening I20 in the wall member 30.

Each eccentric on the crank shaft 61 has a connection with the cross-head of a pumping mechanism, this connection being accomplished by means of an eccentric strap I39 formed at its eccentric engaging end into a continuous ring portion I 40 within which there is supported an anti-friction bearing connection with the eccentrio.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, the packing assembly and lubricating means will now be described in detail. A packing retaining sleeve I49 is disposed within the innermost end of the cylindrical bore I9 with its outermost surface bearing against the cylinder wall. At the inserted end of this sleeve there is provided an inwardly turned end flange I50; and at the opposite end the sleeve is provided with an outwardly turned end flange I5I which extends over the flange I54 and is removably secured thereto as by bolts I52 which are circumferentially spaced around the flange. The inner wall of the sleeve I49, as thus mounted in the cylinder, is outwardly spaced from the surface of the associated plunger and cooperates with this surface to form an annular chamber surrounding the plunger.

The packing is supported within this annular chamber and includes a junk ring I53 in abutting relation to the end flange I50, this ring being of any suitable material such as bronze. A similar ring or bushing I54 is provided at the other end of the sleeve and cooperates with the ring I53 to form clamping members between which the packing elements are secured.

The packing elements in this instance comprise a plurality of packing rings I55 having an outer peripheral body portion I56 and an inner spaced flexible lip portion I51. As assembled, each ring has its body portion disposed adjacent the sleeve M9 and its lip portion adjacent the outer surface of the plunger an. The packing rings I55 are separated by spacer rings I58 of rigid construction. In the case of the two outermost end packing rings, these two packing rings are separated by a lantern ring I59, instead of one of the spacing rings I58. This lantern ring is provided with openings or passageways I60 intermediate its ends for passage of lubricant from the outside of the packing assembly to the inside thereof. The packing assembly is so positioned that the lantern ring I59 will be disposed over a lubricant supply passage IfiI extending through the wall of the sleeve I59 and the adjacently disposed cylinder wall.

The stacked rings and their spacers, together with the junk ring and bushing, are retained in assembled relation in the sleeve I45 by means of a flanged gland ring I62, the flange of this ring overlying the end flange i5I, and being secured thereto as by securing bolts I53. It will be observed that the packing is thus assembled as a unit within the sleeve I49 and that by releasing this sleeve by removing bolts I52, the packing assembly and sleeve may be removed as a unit for repair or replacement.

A lubricant supply conduit IE4 is connected with the inlet passage ISI through a uni-directional acting valve I65 of conventional construction so arranged as to permit flow of lubricant into the passage IGI, but closes upon the occurrence of pressure tending to cause flow in the opposite direction.

It is a primary feature of the packing and lubricating means described above that lubricant is admitted in timed relation to the operation of the plunger. More specifically, lubricant will be admitted to the packing assembly during suction stroke of the plunger, or, in other words, at such time as reduced pressure is acting on the packing.

During the pressure stroke of the plunger 80, the pressure of fluid being pumped will act upon the flexible lip portions of the packing rings to force these lips into sealing engagement with the outer surface of the plunger. Moreover, during the pressure stroke of the plunger, it will be apparent that the movement of the plunger will be in a direction which will tend to prevent the entrance of slush, mud particles, and the like, into the packing assembly.

During reverse movement of the plunger 80,

at which time it will be making a suction stroke, lubricant will be applied under pressure through the valve 165 and will enter the inlet passage l6! and pass through the lantern ring I59. It will be noted that the pressure of this lubricant will act against the lip portion of the endmost packing ring and cause it to make sealing engagement with the adjacent plunger surface, thus preventing movement of the lubricant in a direction to the left of the lantern ring, as viewed in Fig. 4. Lubricant will therefore be forced to move over the other packing rings and will have a tendency to move the lip portions of these rings away from the plunger surface so that lubricant will be applied thereto during movement on its suction stroke.

Any suitable source of supply may be utilized for the furnishing of lubricant to the packing assembly and lubricating means for the plungers 80 of the pumping mechanisms. The only requisite, of course, is that the lubricant be supplied under pressure in proper timed relation to the operation of the plungers, so that lubricant will be supplied during the respective suction strokes of these plungers. One manner in which this may be accomplished is shown in Fig. 1, and comprises a multi-cylinder pump having the same number of cylinders as there are pumping mechanisms. Thus, for a quintuplex pump, the lubricant pump, as generally indicated by the numeral E66, is provided with cylinders lfila, It'ib, lBl'c, IBM, and 1616, respectively, which are connected through individual supply conduits It lic, I641), I640, Md and |B4e with avalve I65 for the respective lubricating packings of the pumping units or mechanisms.

For convenience, this pump is shown as being mounted on a cover plate I6 and is directly connected to the main crank shaft 61 so that the operation of each cylinder will correspond and be in timed relation to the actuation of the plungers of the respective pumping mechanisms by the crank shaft. It will be appreciated, of course, that this pump may be actuated from a separate power source, provided its operation is properly synchronized and timed to furnish lubricant to the respective packings during the suction stroke of their associated plungers.

Th entire pumping apparatus embodying the features which have been pointed out in the description has been incorporated into a unitary structure coming within the weight limitations and dimensional limitations which are imposed upon equipment of this type in order to permit transportation from one location to another in the field. It will be appreciated that the improved pumping unit as described herein is susceptible of other uses than in the field of oil well drilling, and it is therefore not to be limited in scope to this particular use, since the invention has broad application.

Iclaim:

1. In a pump adapted for pumping of fluid having abrasives therein: a housing having a lateral opening and an end opening; a cylinder member projecting from said housing in such position that the inner end of its cylinder opening communicates with said end opening; a piston projecting from said housing through said end opening into said. cylinder member; operating means for reciprocating said piston through a pressure stroke and a suction stroke; a cylindric packing unit slidable from the interior of said housing through said end opening into said cylinder, said packing unit comprising a cylindric shell defining a packing chamber around said piston, a plurality of packing rings in said chamber having annular lips faced toward the interior of said cylinder member and being adapted to engage the surface of said piston, and a lantern ring at the rear end of said plurality of packing rings and sealing means adjacent the rear face of said lantern ring to prevent escape of lubricant from said lantern ring rearwardly along the face of said piston; means defining a lubricant flow passage communicating with said lantern ring; lubricant delivery means actuated by said operating means, connected to said passage andbeing adapted to deliver lubricant through said passage, through said lantern ring and through the space between said plurality of packing rings and the contiguous portion of said iston during the suction stroke of said piston; and valve means adapted to prevent reverse flow of lubricant through said passage during the pressure stroke of said piston.

2. In a pump adapted for pumping of fluid having abrasives therein: a housing having an end opening; a cylinder member projecting from said housing in such position that the inner end of its cylinder opening communicates with said end opening; a piston projecting from said housing through said end opening into said cylinder member; operating means for reciprocating said piston through a pressure stroke and a suction stroke; wall means forming an annular packing chamber around said piston in said cylinder; a plurality of packing rings in said chamber having annular lips faced toward the interior of said cylinder member and being adapted to engage the surface of said piston, and a lantern ring at the rear end of said plurality of packing rings and sealing means adjacent the rear face of said lantern ring to prevent escape of lubricant from said lantern ring rearwardlly along the face of said piston; means defining a lubricant fiow passage communicating with said lantern ring; lubricant delivery means actuated by said operating means, connected to said passage and having parts adapted to move lubricant through said passage, said lantern ring and the space between said plurality of packing rings and the contiguous portion of said piston during the suction stroke of said piston; and valve means adapted to prevent reverse flow of lubricant through said passage during the pressure stroke of said piston.

3. In a pump adapted for the pumping of fluids having abrasives therein: a cylinder member; a piston extending into said cylinder member; operating means for reciprocating said piston through a pressure stroke and a suction stroke; a cylindric packing unit slidable into said cylinder member, said packing unit comprising a cylindric shell defining a packing chamber around said piston, a plurality of packing rings in said cham her having annular lips faced toward the interior of said cylinder member and being adapted to engage the surface of said piston, a lantern ring at the rear end of said plurality of packing rings and sealing means adjacent the rear face of said lantern ring to prevent escape of lubricant from said lantern ring rearwardly along the face of said piston; means defining a lubricant flow passage communicating with said lantern ring; lubricant delivery means actuated by said operating means, connected to said passage and being adapted to move lubricant through said passage, said lantern ring and the space between said plurality of packing rings and the contiguone portion of said piston during the suction stroke of said piston; and valve means adapted to prevent reverse flow of lubricant through said passage during the pressure stroke of said piston.

4. In a pump adapted for pumping of fluid having abrasives therein: a cylinder member; a piston extending into said cylinder member; operating means for reciprocating said piston through a pressure stroke and a suction stroke; wall means forming an annular packing chamber around said piston in said cylinder; a plurality of packing rings in saidchamber having annular lips faced toward the interior of said cylinder member and being adapted to engage the surface of said piston, and a lantern ring at the rear end of said plurality of packing rings and sealing means adjacent the rear face of said lantern ring to prevent escape of lubricant from said lantern ring rearwardly along the face of said piston; means defining a lubricant flow passage L communicating with said lantern ring; lubricant delivery means actuated by said operating means, connected to said passage and being adapted to move lubricant through said passage, said lantern ring and through the space between said plurality of packing rings and the contiguous portion of said piston during the suction stroke of said piston; and valve means adapted to prevent reverse flow of lubricant through said ipassage during the pressure stroke of said piston.

5. In a pump adapted for pumping of fluid halving abrasives therein: a housing having an end opening; a cylinder member projecting from said housing in such position that the inner end of its cylinder opening communicates with said end opening; a piston projecting from said housing through said end opening into said cylinder member; operating means for reciprocating said piston through a pressure stroke and a suction stroke; wall means forming an annular packing chamber around said piston insaid cylinder; a plurality of packing rings in said chamber having annular lips faced toward the interior of said cylinder member and being adapted to engage the surface of said piston; means defining a lubricant flow passage communicating with said packing chamber at a point spaced from the front end of said plurality of. packing rings; lubricant delivery means having a lubricant flow eiiecting part connected to said operating means.

so as to reciprocate in timed relation to the operation of said piston and being connected to said passage and having parts adapted to move lubricant under pressure through said passage and through the annular space between the lips of at least a portion of said packing rings and the contiguous portion of said piston during the suction stroke of said piston; and a check valve adapted to prevent reverse flow of lubricant through said passage during the pressure stroke of said piston.

6. In a pump adapted for pumping of fluid having abrasives therein: a cylinder member; a piston extending into said cylinder member; operating means for reciprocating said piston through a pressure stroke and a suction stroke; wall means forming an annular packing chamber around said piston in said cylinder; a plurality of packing rings in said chamber having annular lips faced toward the interior of said cylinder member and being adapted to engage the surface of said piston; means defining a lubricant flow passage communicating with said packing chamber at a pointspaced from the front end of said plurality of packing rings; and lubricant delivery means having a lubricant flow effecting part connected to said operating means so as to reciprocate in timed relation to the operation of said piston and being connected to said passage and having parts operable to deliver lubricant under pres sure through said passage and through the space between the lips of at least a portion of said packing rings and the contiguous portion of said piston at intervals corresponding with the suction strokes of said piston.

7. In a pump adapted for pumping of fluid having abrasives therein: a cylinder member; a piston extending into said cylinder member; operating means for reciprocating said piston through a pressure stroke and a suction stroke; wall means forming an annular packing chamber around said piston in said cylinder; a plurality of packing rings in said chamber having annular lips faced toward the interior of said cylinder member and being adapted to engage the surface of said piston; means defining a lubricant flow passage communicating with said packing chamber at a point spaced from the front end of said plurality of packing rings; a separate lubricant pump connected to said operating means so as to be actuated in timed relation to said piston and having parts operative to move lubricant intermittently through said passage and through the space between the lips of at least a portion of said packing rings and a contiguous portion of said piston during a suction stroke of said piston.

8. In a pump adapted for pumping of fluid having abrasives therein: a cylinder member; a piston extending into said cylinder member; operating mean for reciprocating said piston through a pressure stroke and a suction stroke; wall means forming an annular packing chamber around said piston in said cylinder; a plurality of packing rings in said chamber having annular lips faced towards the interior of said cylinder member and being adapted to engage the surface of said piston; means defining a lubricant flow passage communicating with said packing chamber at a point spaced from the front end of said plurality of packing rings; a separate lubricant pump connected to said operating means so as to be actuated in timed relation to said piston and having parts operative to move lubricant intermittently through said passage and through the space between lips of at least a portion of said packing rings and a contiguous portion of said piston during a suction stroke of said piston; and a check valve in said passage between said lubricant pump and said packing chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 274,500 Kline Mar. 27, 1883 1,456,014 Stevenson May 22, 1923 1,483,143 Whitlock Feb. 12, 1924 1,546,596 Mader July 21, 1925 2,079,922 Owen May 11, 1937 2,081,224 Coberly et a1. May 25, 1937 2,3e8,004 Gruetjen May 2, 1944: 2,470,5960 'Iremolada May 24, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 587,846 France Apr. 24, 1925 609,606 France May 17, 1926 

